Throughout the body’s natural aging process, additional layers form on the surface of the lens and hardens

As a result, the lens will lose transparency and flexibility and become thicker

The tissues within the lens degenerate and the protein will consequently clump together, resulting in cloudiness in some areas.

The lens is responsible for focusing light in such a way so as to produce clear and sharp images onto the retina, which lies behind the lens

The cloudiness scatters the light that the lens focuses and reduces the quality of the images that it transmits to the retina

Therefore, the vision becomes cloudy, dimmed, and/or blurred

This cloudiness is the cataract

Nuclear Cataracts

These cataracts affect the center of the lens

Initially, the vision problems may appear in the form of more nearsightedness, or conversely, a temporary improvement in the reading vision

Over time, the lens will gradually yellow in color and result in further cloudiness in the lens

Throughout further progression, the cataracts will turn the lens from yellow to brown. The denser yellow or brown colors of the lens will give the patient great difficulty in distinguishing between the different shades of color

Cortical Cataracts

These cataracts affect the edges of the lens

These initially appear as whitish, wedge-shaped streaks on the outer cortex of the lens

As the cataracts progress, the streaks will spread and extend to the center of the lens, directly interfering with the focusing of light on the center

These particular cataracts are usually responsible for those patients who experience increased sensitivity to glare

Posterior Subcapsular Cataracts

These cataracts impact the back or rear of the lens

At its onset, these start as a small and cloudy area at the back of the lens, which is right in the path that light is focused onto the retina

These are the cataracts responsible for impairing vision in bright light, reading vision, and causing glare or the appearance of halos around lights during the nighttime

Congenital Cataracts

These are the cataracts that are hereditary and passed onto a child or otherwise contracted during early childhood

They may also have come about as a result of a contraction of some infection during pregnancy

Additionally, they could be caused by other pre- and co-existing conditions, including:

Myotonic dystrophy = a type of and the most common form of muscular dystrophy in which the individual experiences progressive wasting and weakness in the muscles

Previous refractive surgery makes it more difficult to ascertain the best fit intraocular lens (IOL) implant

It is recommended to inform the doctor of the patient’s vision prescription prior to any previous eye surgery in order to determine the best fit IOL implant

The ophthalmologist will prescribe antibiotic eyedrops to be used 1 – 2 days before surgery in order to decrease the risk of infection

With the procedure itself, a small incision is made in the cornea and a small instrument is inserted within

This instrument will use high frequency ultrasound to break up the center of the clouded lens, which is then carefully suctioned out

The removed clouded lens is replaced with the IOL implant, made of plastic, silicone, or acrylic

This IOL implant will allow light to be properly focused onto the retina

It becomes a permanent part of the eye

Once the IOL implant has been put in place, the incision is closed with or without stitches

A protective shield is placed on the eye after surgery

Follow the instructions of the doctor as to the proper usage of eyedrops and avoidance of strenuous activity for a certain period of time throughout the recovery period

Risks of Surgery

Bleeding within the eye

Increase of pressure within the eye = glaucoma

Swelling or the retina and/or the cornea

Detachment of the retina

Infection

Partial or total loss of vision

Secondary Cataract

The part of the lens that covers the IOL implant may become clouded anytime afterward in the range of several months to years after the removal of the cataract

This results in the secondary cataract

If it happens to the patient and blurs vision just as the first one did, then the doctor will use a laser to make another small opening in the center of the clouded lens to allow for light to be properly focused onto the retina again

This procedure, which is called posterior capsulotomy, takes only 5 minutes at most to do and requires no recovery period afterwards

Those who wear glasses of any kind to correct for near vision may require their usage after surgery for reading, and in some cases, for distance